As of 1 January 2010, knowledge institutes, the Dutch government and industry are to cooperate more intensively and at international level to speed up the introduction of the bio-based economy, an economy based on renewable sources. By placing the emphasis on scale-up research, an open innovation model and a proactive role for the financial sector, the BE-Basic consortium aims to stimulate innovation which will lead to accelerated introduction. TU Delft is coordinating the new initiative that includes, among others, an R&D budget exceeding 120 million euro, of which 60 million is made available by the Dutch Ministries of Finance and Economic Affairs.

Environment

BE-Basic’s (Bio-Based Ecologically Balanced Sustainable Industrial Chemistry) R&D programme comprises research into the development of bio-based products such as biochemicals, biomaterials and biofuels. The effect of this production on the environment (soil, water, air) will also be closely analysed using genomics technology. The consortium will build on the work of the earlier, successful B-Basic and Ecogenomics Consortium research programmes and will continue to conduct cutting-edge academic research into industrial and environmental biotechnology.

Bio-refineries

In order to implement research results on a wide scale into the current economy, BE-Basic also plans a multi-purpose facility for scale-up research, suited to both current technology and future development. This urgent ambition of industrial and knowledge partners within and outside BE-Basic is expressed by Rob van Leen, Chief Innovation Officer at DSM: “One major element of BE-Basic’s strategy is the addition of an experimental test facility to the research portfolio. The translation from science to industrial practice requires technology as applied in large-scale integrated bio-refineries. Real breakthroughs can only be achieved if different sectors (agro, food, paper, chemical, materials and energy industries) integrate their activities into a bio-based chain. Cooperation between academic and industrial partners in an open innovation environment is essential here.”

Worldwide

BE-Basic will not just position itself as a leading institute nationally, but will have a large number of European and global industrial, academic and financial partners, including DSM, AkzoNobel, possibly Novozymes, Imperial College (UK), TU Dortmund and Karlsruhe (Germany), several US and Asian players, and financial parties such as Burrill & Company (USA) and Rabobank. The alliance will also form part of the Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community (http://www.eit.europa.eu/) a North European initiative to introduce the bio-based economy into the chemical, materials and energy sectors. "BE-Basic has an eminent reputation for delivering scientific quality in a public-private environment," Richard Templer of Imperial College (London, UK) and director of the British Porter Alliance explains: "That is true for their biological science and technology activities, but has also extended to the socio-economic programmes. We are delighted to continue collaborations with BE-Basic in both spaces, and trust this is positive news for the bio-based economy and climate efforts in Northern Europe."

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More information

Prof. Luuk van der Wielen (Director of BE-Basic) +31 (0)15 2782361, +31 (0)6 22802800, L.A.M.vanderWielen@tudelft.nl

BE-Basic website: http://www.be-basic.org